Machine



(Nu Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. VAN BOREN. MATCH MAKING MAGHINE.

NO 567,927. Patented Sept. 15-1896" (No Model.j Sheets-Sheet 2. J. M. VAN BOREN. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No. 567,927. PatentedSept. 15, 1896.

(N0 Model.) 6 Sheets-Shet 4.

J M VAN BOREN MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

ate nted Sept. 15, 1896.

6 Sheets-Sheat 6.

(No Model.)

J M VAN DORE N MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No. 567,927. Patentd Sept 15, 1896.

NITED ST JOSEPH M. VAN BOREN, en YORK, PNNSYLVANIA.

MATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICAILION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,927, dated September 15, 1896. Applioation filecl January 9, 1895. Serial Not534,378. (Ne inodel.)

Be it knewn that I, JOSEPH M.V AN DOREN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Yerk, York county, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Imprevem ents in Match-Mak ing Machines, of vvhieh the fellewing; is a specificatien.

l\l[y inventien consists of imprevements in mateh-making machinery, and relates particularly te that classef machines in which the match-splints are cut fren1 veneer strips and are depesitedin an endless belt, by which means they are carried threugh the different stages necessary te convert them inte peri.ected matches.

My inventien embraces the impreved belt and the attachments therete fer holding and eenveying the inatehsplints threugh the Ina ehine, means f01 automatically feeding the matelrweed te reeipreeating knives fer cutting it into splints, means fer autematically depesiting these splints in said belt fer conveying them threugh the machine, means fer intermittently eperating said feedi1ig meehanism and centinueusly driving said belt, and means fer autematically discharging the finished matches trom the belt, all of which is more fullydescribed and peinted eut hereinafter, reference beng had te the accompanying drawings, fern1ing a part of this specificatien, in which Figure 1 is a side elevatien of the machine, partly in sectien. Fig'. 2 is a plan view of the machine. the machine, taken en the line 3 3 and leeking in the direction of the arrew x, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a pertien of myimpreved match-carrying belt. Fig. 5 is an enlarged lengitudinal sectienal view of a pertien of said belt. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectien of a portien of said belt. Fig. 7 is a sectienal plan view, en an enlargedseale, of a portien of said belt. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in cresssectien of a cam-path in the machine used fer depressing the matchcarrying belt. 'Fig. 0 is averti'cal sectienal view, partly in elevatien, of the match-weed table and the devices f01 feeding the weed te the reciprecating knives. Fig. 10 is a sectienal plan view of the guideplate f0r the. matchwe ed. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the guide-plate fer the match- Fig. 3 is a seetienal elevatien of weed. Fig. 12 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the clamps fer feeding the match-weed te the reciprecating knive-s. Fig. 13 is a tertical sectienal view en the line 13 13, Fig. 1; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged view in elevatien of the ratchet-wheel used f01 imparti1ig metion te the mechanisme fer eeding the matchevood and also fer eperating the presser-fin gers which insert the match-splints in the endless belt.

The object of my inventien has been tecenstruct a machine fer making matches in a simple and substantial manner and With as few parts as pessible, thus red ucing the wear and tear of such a machine during its operati0n and the consequent heavy expenses fer repairs, and at the same time te increase the efficiency and eutput of the machine.

The most nevel feature of my machine is the splint-heldihg devices fer the endless belt. These splint-helding devees censist ef small tubes secured within apertures er perferatiens in the endless belt and previded With spring-lingers te held the splints wthin said tubes, said spring-fingersbeing operated by reds carried by the links of the endless belt and held nermally in actien by means of suitable springs. These tubes maypreject abeve er belew the surface of the belt, er may be fixed se as te project equidistantly en beth sides, as may be desired. The preferable arrange'ment, hewever, is as sl1ewn in the accempanying drawings.

'lhe reds carrying the spring-lingers which en gage the tubes of the endless belt are pre- "ided at one end with depending heads adapted te engage with cam prejectiens er paths in the machine fer the purpose of 1e leasing said fingers from their engagement With the tubes. This arrangement is f01 twe purpeses-firSt, te free the tubes frem any prejectien, so that the splints may be depesited in the same, and, seeend, te release the fingers frem their engagement with the matches when it is desired te empty the belt of the same.

Another nevel feature of my in ventien een sists of themechanism fer feeding the match splints te the endless belt. 'This mechanism is eperated intermittently in order that the splints will net De fed te the belt while the hinge-jeints of the same are passing under IOO the feeding mechanism, as the movement of the belt is continuous.

For convenience and clearness the descriptien Will be given under different heads, as follows: first, the framework of the machine and the shafts and pulleys for carrying the endless belt; second, the mechanism for driving the pulleys supporting the endless belt; third, the endless belt f0r holding and carryng the match-splints; fourth, the auxiliary supportsfortheendlessbelt; fifth,thedevices for holding the matches in the endless belt; sxth, the 1I] eans f0r giving the feeding mech anisrn an in termit tent motion seventh,mech anism for feeding the match-wood forward; eighth, mechanism for cutting the matchwood into splints; ninth, mechanism for 0p erating the knives which out the match-wood into splints; tenth, mechanism for deposit ing the m atch-splints in the tubes of the endless belt; eleventh, means for heating the match-splints; twelfth, mechanism for dip ping theinatch-spliutsinto the paraffin-bath;

thirteenth, means for chilling the paraffin coating on the match -splints; fourteenth, means f0r coating the ends of the matchsplints With the ignition material; fifteenth, means for discharging the finished matches from the endless belt.

The frcmzewor/c of the machine and the shafts and pulleys f0q cawyzng zhc endless b-elL-The main framework of the machine consists of the corner posts 1 1 an d 2 2. These are mounted on the base 3, and are connected together by the cross-braces 4: and the longitudinal stringers 5. G is the main drivingshaft, mounted in suitable bearings 011 posts 1 1. 7 7 are shaffs for the idler-pulleys 8, Which are mounted in bearings secured to the enter face of the post 2 2. 9 is a shaft for a smaller idler-pulley 10, mcunted in bearings on l1e inner fa ce of the posts 2 2. 11 is a short shaft 01 spindle mounted in a bearing, secured to one of the posts 1 and carrying an intermediate gear-wheel 12, and 13 is a wormshaft mounted in bracket-bearings at the side of one of the posts 1.

The mechamsm f0r drving ihepulleys supp0rit'ng the endless belt.The worm-shaft 13 is driven by means of a pulley 14 on the outer end of the same, said pulley being driven by a belt 15 from any suitable souree of power, and motion is imparted to the belt-pulleys 10 on the main driving-shaft 6 to move the endless belt through the medium of the worm 17 and worm-wheel 18. The pulleys 19 on the shaft 20 are driven by means of a gear-wheel 21 on the end of said shaft, said gear-wheel meshiugwith the intermediate gear-wheel 12, which is driven by the gear-wheel 22 on the main driving-shaft 6. By this means the endless belt is positively driven from two points and in opposite directions, which is a necessary arrangement on account of the length of the chain. The pulleys S are idlerpulleys and serve only to support and guide the endless belt.

The endless belt f0r holding and carryng the match-splinis.23 is the endless belt f0r carrying the matehsplints. It is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, in plan "iew in Fig. 2,in cross-section in Fig. 3, and in detail, on an enlarged scale, in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive. It consists of a series of sheet-metal plates 24, riveted 0r secured in any other suitable manner to a frame 25, made of angle-iron forthe purpose of stiffening said plates and also for 'another purpose 'described hereinafter. These plates 24: are provided with perforatiens 20 to receive the tubes f01 holding the match-splints, and form the links of the endless belt 23. Secured to the frame of these links are perforated ears 27, through which are passed rods 28 to connect the links together to form the endless belt. The ends of the rods 28 are provided With rollers 29 and are adapted to a track 30, formed of angle iron, which is secured to the longitudinal stringers 5 of the frame of the machine. Interposed between the ends of the frame 25 and the rollers 29 are collars 31, which form antifriction-rollers and are engaged by the notches 32 on the driving-pulleys and idlers on which the belt travels, the notchesin the sad pulleys being spaced the same distance apart as the joints of the endless belt. The metal frame 25 of the links 24: stiffens the plate and prevents the same from becoming bent. This frame serves the f urther purpose of affording a support for the various attachments forholding the match-splints in the tubes of the belt.

The auxiliary supports for the endless belt-As an auxiliarysupport for the endless belt I provide the tracks 3U, formed of angleiron, as described, and arranged at different heights in the machine t-0 correspond with the height of the chain as 'it passes over the different pulleys for carryng the same. These tracks are secured to he stringers 5 inau y suitable manner, and while serving as a support for the belt also strengthen the frame of the machine.

The demces f0r holding the matches in he endless beZt.-Secured in the holes 26 in the plate 24 of the endless belt are a series of tubes 33, open throughout ther length and partly cut away at theirlower ends, as shown at 3-1, to enable the spring-fingers 35 to hold the match-splints \vithin said tubes, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The mateh-splints are deposited in the tubes of the endless belt by special mechanism and held by the springfin QG1S 35, described above, which are carried by the bars 36. The bars 36 are carried by the frame 25 of the endless belt and are free tomove in slots 37 in the same. They are normally held to the extreme right of said frame by means of springs 38, interposed between the ends 39 of the bars 36 and the frame 25, so as to keep the spring-fingers 35 al ways in engagement with the match-splints. The spring-fingers 35, which held the splints within the tubes 33, are made by bending,

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ting each wire so bent from opposite sides through the same holes 40 in the bar 36,

twisting the ends of one wire with the ends of the other wire over the lower edge of said bar, and then bendng the free ends of the wires into such shape that they will rest against the ent-out portions of the tubes 33 in a position to hold the match-splints when they are deposited within said tubes. By the above arrangement twopieces of wire may form four spring-fingers. The rods 01 bars 36 are provided with elongated heads or lugs 41, and these are acted upon bya cam or projection 42 to free the tubes from the springfingers, so that the splints may be deposited within the same, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and

7. This cam or projection is situated at the side of the machine directly under the mechanism which deposits the match-splints in the tubes and is carried bya shelf 43, secured to the frame of the machine between the posts 1 1. 'lhis shelf also supports the splints in the belt before the spring-fingers aan act,

As soon as the heads 41 of the bars 36 leave the projection 42 and before they pass the shelf 43 they are retracted by the springs 38 and the spring-fingers assume their normal duty of holding the splints in the tubes. They are released from said tubes as finished matches by a sirnilar cam or projection 44 at a suitable point in the machine after they have completed the circuit of the same.

T he 7LGCZCMSTQ" gimng thefeedzng mechamsm cm intermittent motion.This mechanism is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, in plan in Fig. 2, and in detail, on an enlarged scale, in Figs. 13 and 14. In the machine shown in the accompanying drawings each link 24 of the endless belt eontains ten rows of perforationsadapted to receive the matchsplints, and the forward motion of the belt is so timed as to bring a rovv of these perf0rations directly under tl1at portion of the machine where the match-splints are cut oi' simultaneously With the cutting 05: of said splints. The hinge conneetions of the endless belt are equal in width to the space taken up by four rows of tubes of the same, and in order to move the belt from the last IOW of tubes in one link to the first row in the next link or past the hinge-joint a special ratchet and-pawl mechanism is employed, operating as follows: Mounted on one end of a spindle 45, secured to one of the posts 1, is a ratchetwheel 46, having ratchetteeth 47, ten in number, spaced equidistant from each other, and a space 48, Which takes the place of four ratchet-teeth which are purposely left out. On the Outer face of the ratchet-wheel 45 are 0urteen teeth 01 projections 49, arranged in a circle inside the line of the ratchetnotches and offset from the line of the same. Carried by the worm-shaft 13 is a lug 50, which engagtes with the projections 49 on the ratchetwheel 46. The endless belt is mved the distance from one row of tubes to the next at every revolution of the worm-shaft 13, and the ratchet-wheel is turned the distance of one ratchet by the engagement of the lug 50 With the teeth 49 of the face of the same. This forward movement of the ratchet-wheel 45 raises the lever 51 each time the moving ratchets com.e under the said lever. 'lhis lever 51 is normally held on top of the ratchet- Wheel 46 by the spring 52, and this upward movement operates the lever 53, to which is connected the levers 66 to move the match- Wood 54 into position to be cut off into splints by the knives 55. The arn1 56 forms a continuation of the lever 51 and serves as a stop to limit the drop of said lever as the ratchetteeth 47 are disengaged from the same to regulate the feed of the matoh-wood to the reciprocating knives. In order to regulate the drop of this lever 51 and the consequent feed of the match-wood, I provide a serew-bolt 58, which is pivotally connected to a bracket 59, secured to one of the posts 1 of the machine. This bolt passes through a hole 57 in the arm 56,Whih forms a continuation of the lever 51, and is provided With a thumb-nut 60, against which the ar1n 56 seats when the lever 51 drops as the ratchet-teeth 47 are disengaged from the same.

lf it be desiredto stop the feeding mechanism entirely, the arm 56 is pressed down to the limit of its movement and thejthumb-nut 60 is screwed down to hold it in this 'l0vvered position. This raises the lever 51 clear of the ratchet-wheel4, and the movement of the mechanism for feedingthe match-wood ceases. The endless belt, however, is keptin motion until it has been empted of the matches Contained therein.

It Wll be seen from the foregoing description that the worm-shaft 13 makes one revofour ratchets being left outof the ratchec-- wheel 46 to eqnal the four r0ws of perforations which are taken up by hinge-joints of the endless belt.

Machansmjbrfeeding the match-woodforwarcZ.-This mechanisrn is elearly shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The match-wood 54 for usein this machine is mountedon the table 61 and is preferably in coils, so as to economize spaee. The strips of wood, there being one for each of the longitudinal rows of tubes of the endless belt, are adapted to guides 62, along which they are fed to a point vvherethey are cut off into splints. These guides IIO 62 are cut away at 63 to give space for the clamps 64 of the feeding mechanism t0 grip the match-wood in order to feed it to the reciprocating knives. The clamps G1 consist of the spring-arms 65, provided with the serrated forward edges 65, that are held on each side of the match wood veneer, and are loosely confined against undue spreading at the forward end by means of the clamp 6-i. These spring-arms are always in contact with the match-wood, but are free to be disengaged when retracted by the action of the levers 66 in order to get a fresh grip on the same, so as to feed it forward for the cutting off of another series of splints. The guideways for the match-wood are cut away at 62, as shown at Fig. 9, for the free werking of the clamps 64. Every time one of the ratchets 17 raises the lever 51 it causes a movement of the rock-shaft 67 sufficient to move the match-wood forward for the cutting off of a matchsplint from each strip of the same, the clamps 64 being retracted for another grip upon the match-wond each time ratehets 47 pass-the lever 51. 1Vhile the blank space 47 on the ratchet-wheel 45 is passing under the lever 51, there Will be no forward movement of the match-wood. 'lhis arrangement permits the hinge-joints of the endless belt to pass the point where the splints are fed to the belt without wastng any of the splinis and without stopping the movement of said belt.

The mechcmism f07' cuzing the match-wood z'nto spZints.-This mechanism is as follows: Secured to the inner side of the posts 1 of the frame of the machine is a plate 08, provided With slots 69, through which the match-wood is fed to the reciprocating knives 55. These knives 55 are carried by a sliding frame 70, which moves in guides 71, secured to a frame or box 7 2, which is placed between the posts 1 and forms the forward part 01 continuation of the table6l. The mechanism which moves these knives is so timed as to cut off a series of splints just before a row of tubes in the endless belt comes underneath the same, so that as soon as the tubes in the endless belt register with the splints they Will be inserted into the said tubes. Directly in front of each slot 69 in the plate 68 is an L-shaped guard 73, which acts, first, as a stop for the matchwood during its forward movement, so that splints of the same size Will be cutoff, though the feed of the match-woodmay be in excess of the quantity desired; second, as a stop forthe reciprocating knives 55 in their transverse cutting movement, and, lastly, as a guide to enable the match-splints to register accurately with the tubes in the endless belt, a necessary feature of the perfect working of the machine, as the downward movement of the splints at this point is somewhat rapid.

Mecms f01 operazfc'ng the 7cm'oes which cw the matchavood imo splinis.-This device is shown in plan view in Fig. 2 and in end elevation in Fig. 3. Mounted on the end of the above the L-shaped guards 73.

worm-shaft 13 is an eccentric rod or lever 74,

which is connected at its other end to the sliding frame 70, which carries the knives 55. At every revolution of the shaft 13 the sliding frame 70 is moved back andforth, so as to permit the knives carried thereloy to sever the match-wood into splints at regular intervals, and this cutting movement of the knives is timed to correspond Wit-11 the feed of the endless belt, so as to bring a row of tubes directly under every row of match-splints cut off.

17w device for deposting the maze7wsplints in the tubes of the endless belt. Carried by bearings 75, secured to the posts 1 of the frame of the machine, is a rock-shaft 7 6, provided With arms 77, which carry at their outer ends a frame 78, which is mounted directly 'lhis frame is provided With a series of wires or fingers 79, one for each splint, and these fingers are intended to force the splints into the tubes of the endless belt, being carried down by the frame 78 when the latter is depressed bythe mechanism employed for that purpose. This mechanism consists of a lever 80, pivoted to the post 1 at 81 and connected at one end 82 to one of the arms 77 and provided at its other end With an enlarged head 83, engaging with a projection 84 on the Worm-shaft 13, so that at every revolution of the said worm-shaft the wires or fingers will be carried downward. The downward movement of these pushingfingers is so timed as to deposit a row of match-splints in the tubes of the endless belt eacl1 time the same are brought under the said fingers. The ends of the fingers 7 9 are held normally in the upper part of the guards 73, so that they are directly above the severed match-splints. The shelf 43,extending across the machine directly underneath the point where the match-splints are deposited in the tubes of the endless belt, serves as a stop to prevent the matches from dropping through the same, and also to keep the proj ecting portion of the splints of the same length.

llfecms for hecuing the match splinzs. Mounted on cross-bar S5, secured to the longitudinal stringers of the machine, is a steam or hotair chamloer 86, over which the matchsplints pass. This drum is supplied with steam or het air from the pipe 87, and the heated air radiating from the enlarged surface of this drum circulates am ong the matchsplints as they are carried over the same, and they are thereby thoroughly dried in order that they may more readily absorb the paraffin.

Mechamsm f07 dtpping the match-splnis into the parajfiwbath.At a suitable poiut in the length of the track 30 I provide a de pression 88 and secure to the upper edge of said track a plate or guide flange 89, which practically forms a can1-path at this point. As the belt moves forward the rollers which are on the track 30 are deflected downward by reason of the guide or flange plate 89, and

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this depressien of the endless belt allews the splints te dip into the paraffin centained in the receptacle 90 as they are carried forward. llccms f0r c7mllzng the pcmfiin coating en the match-splins. In the manufacture of matches by means of an autematically-werking machine it is necessary that the paraffin en the splints may be ceoled er hardened as rapidly as pessible in order that the splints may receive the ignition material. Fer this purpese I provide a celd-air chamleer 91, suit ably secured te the frame of the machine, and this chamber is provided with a series of transverse slets 92 in the top of the same, the distance between the said slets cerrespendng te the distance between the lengitudinal rews of match-splints in the endless belt. A pipe 93 fel cenveying celd air frem any suitable source of supply is secured te the tank at any suitable peint and the air se supplied circulates areund the splints and hardens th paraffin.

While I have shewn the means fer ceelin g er hardening the paraffin en the matchsplints, as described above,I nevertheless de net wish to limit myself te this precise method of ceeling said paraffin, as the Same purpese might be accemplished by means of jets er blasts of air adapted te impinge upen the splints frem the sides of the machine.

ilfecms for coating the ends of the match- .splims wz'th the zgniz0n materiaZA-Beyend the celd-air chamber 91 is a treugh-like re- .ceptacle 94, centaining the ignitien material.

J eurnaled in suitable bearings in theends of this receptacle is areller 95, which is revelved by anysuitable mechanism. In this instane a sprecket-wheel 96 is meunted en the end of the shaft 97, which carries the roller 95, and thisis driven by achain 98 from a sprecketwheel- 99 011 the main driving-shaft. The

roller 96 is c'overed with felt', asbestes, cleth,

or any ether suitable fibreus material te more readily cellect and held the required qu antity of the ignition material and present it te the match-splints as they pass over the Same. 'In

order te have this coating of a unifeim thickness, I previdea roller 100, earrying a series of blades 101, which serve tekeep the ignitien material theroughly mixed and als te Scrape off the superflueus materal frem the roller 95. The roller 100, hewever, maybe smaller and be used as a mixer enly, empleying a scraper-blade te scrape 0 the superflu0us ignitien material. Beth the roller and the scraper-blade, if used, are intended te be made adjustable, so that the ameunt of ignitien material te be depesited upen the match splints may be pesitively regulated. 'lhe roller 100 is driven in an eppesite directien te the coating-roller 95 by means of the chain 100. This receptacle is supported by 111 eans of the cross-brace 102. lVhile I have shewn the top of the roller 95 en a level With the lewer ends of the matclrsplints, se thattherc xvill be no neeessity of depressing the endless belt, I may, hewever, placet-his roller en a CIC lewer level, se that it will be necessary te depress the belt te allew the splints to become ceated With the ignitien material, and fier this purpese a plate er guide flange substantially the same as that shewn at 89 in the track 30 may be used.

lllccms f01 dzschargz'ng thcfinishcd matches from the endless beZt.-After the splints have received the coating ef ignitien material they are carried by the endless belt over the varieus pulleys 8 and 10 in the dlrectien of the small arrevvs shewn in Fig. 1 until they finally arrive at the peiut where they are discharged frem the same. The matches have beceme tl1roughly dried during their passage threugh the machine, and there is ne danger of their sticking tegetherafter they have been discharged ento the endless belt 103.

The eperatien of discharging the matches is as fellews: 'lhe endless belt passes er rather arrives at the peint of discharge with the heads of the matches uppermest, and the bars 36, carrying the spring-lingers 35, which held the matches in the tubes of the belt, also have their elengated heads prejecting upward as they pass this peint. A cam er prejectien 44 is secured te the inside of oneef the pests 1 and is se placed that theelengated heads of the reds 36 Will engage with thesam and be partially drawn out of the flanges 25, carrying the springfingers 34, and thus release the matches and permit themte drop out of the tubes ente the end less belt 103, which cenveys them away from themachine te any suitable peint fer packing. As the endless belt 23 passes the peint of diseharge the head of the reds 361eave the eain er prejectien 44 and are returned te their nermal pesitien by means of the springs 38, betere described.

The eperatien of the machine is as fellews: The machine having been started, the endless belt is being traversed threugh the circuit of the Same threugh the medium of the Worm and wermwheel. The feeding mechanism fer moving the matchweed te the re ciprecating knives is in operatien threugh the medium Of. the ratchet-wheel, and the splints are beng cut eff by saidknives. Immediately upenthe severing of the splints the fingers which insert the same into the tubes in the endless belt and which 11EIJ6 been resting nermally in the guides directly above the splints descend threugh the actien of the mechanism fer eperating the Same, and the splints are depesited into the tubes of. the endless belts, the fingers being retracted bythe acten of the spring 80, eennected te said lever S0. 'lhe wermshaft has 110W made ene complete revoluten and has breught the belt i'erward until the next rew of tubes is undcr the series of splints that are beiug eut eif, and they are inserted in the tubes by the fingcrs, as befere deseribed. Every revelutien of the Wermshaft operates the knives te cut eff 011c rew of splints, and the mechanism f01 'eeding, the matchvweed is drawn back for a fresh grip en the same simultanecusly with the severing and depositing of the splints in the tubes of the endless belt. After the splints have been deposited in the belt they are carried by the same successively to the hot-air drum, where they are dried, to the paraffin-bath, where they are dipped to make ihe1n inflammable, then past the cold-air-blast chamber t0 chili and harden the paraffin, and then to the roller in the phosphorustank, which c0ats their ends with said ignition materia]. Passing these points the matches are conveyed around the circuit of the machine until they become horoughly dried, after which they are discharged from the said belt ont0 an endless crossbelt 103, which con"eys the1n away from the machine and deposits the1n at any suirable point f0r packing in b0xes.

I claim as 1ny invention 1. The combination in a match-making machine of a carrier having a series of s0ckets receiving the match-splints larger than the splints so that they Will freely enter the sockets, retainers coperating With the s0ckets te h0ld the splints therein With means f01 actuating the retainers t0 release the splints,

substantially as described.

2. The combination in a match-making machine, of the carrier, a series of sockets receiving the splints, with spring-retainers adapted f0 press against the splinrs Within and coperating With the sockets t0 hold the splints and means f0r withdrawing the springretainers t0 release the splints and allow them to be discharged from the carrier, substan tially as described.

3. The combination in a match-making machine, of the carrier, sockets thcrein larger than and receiving the splints, independent retainers for each socket coperating there- With te hold the splints and means for Withdrawing the retainers so that the splinis may enter the sockets at 0ne point and be discharged from the sockets at another point, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a match-making machine, of a series of plates linked together forming chains, sockets in each plate, inde pendent spring retainers adapted t0 each socket, means for retracting said retainers, veneer-feeders above the sockets in the chain, cutters ad apted to out the veneersinto splints and feeders for forcng the cut splints into the sockets, a table directly under the chain at the feeding-point t0 limit the fall of the splints, said retainers being rclieved from the control of the retracting means as the chain moves over the table, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a match-making machine, of the horizontal guides, chain adapted to travel thereon, each section of the chain having a number of sockets, gudes for the veneers of match-wood, intermittent feeders for the veneers and for the chain, cutters arranged at the end of the veneer-guides, said cutters being directly above the chain so that as the splints are cut they will drop into the sockets of the chain, a stop t0 limit the fall of the splints, retainers ceperating With the sockets and carried by the chain whereby ea'ch splintis held independentlyin its socket, with means for dipping the projecting ends of the splints as they travel forward, substantially as described.

(3. The combination in a match-making machine, of the horizontal table having grooves therein forming guideways for the match-wood veneers arranged 0n edge, a rockshaft, means f0r intermittently operating said shaft, levers on the shaft, feeders adapted t0 straddle the veneers and connected t0 said levers, cutters at the end of the table and stops beyond the cutters With a perforated belt adapted to travel un der the end of the table and te receive the splints as they are ent from the veneers, substantially as described.

7. An endless belt for use in match-making machines, comprising a series of plates hingecl together, a series of tubes en said plates f0r holding the match-splints, spring lingers adapted te confine the splints Within the tubes, and rods carried by the endless belt t0 which said spring-fingers are secured, substantially as described.

8. The combinaton in a machine f0r making matches, of the endless belt, mechanism f0r driving the sam e, including a worm-shaft, match-splint-feeclingdevices, and mechanism f0r intermittently driving the same consisting of a wheel having a blank space and a series of ratchets on its periphery, and a series of lugs on its face which are en gagcd With by a projection on the worm-shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a machine f0r making matches, the combination of the frame, a match-wood-car rying table, knives f0r cutting the matchwood into splints, feeders for the mafch-wood, a rock-shaft, arms 011 said shaft connected to the feeders, a (11V611 ratchet-wheel, a lever en said rock-shaft engaging with the ratchetwheel With an adjustable stop f0r said lever, substantially as described.

10. In a machine f0r making matches, the combination of the frame the match-wood-carrying table supported by said frame, knives for cutting the said match-wood into splints, mechanism f0r feeding the in atch-wood to the knives, a rockshaft carried by said frame and opcrating said feeding mechanism, a ratchetwheel also carried by the frame, a le- Ver connected to said rock-shaft 0ne end of which is in engagement Witl1 said ratchetwheel, and a screw-nut for depressing and holding the opposite end of said lever out of engagement with said ratchet-Wheel s0 as to stop the feeding of the matchwood, substantially as described.

11. The combination in a match-making machine, of the endless belt, tubes within the same, mechanism fcr depositing the matchsplints in said tubes, a rock-shaft f0r operating the same, a worm-shaft, and a lever pivoted to the frame of the machine, one end of said lever being connected to the match-splintdeposting mechanism, while the other end is free to be acted upon by a lug carriecl by said worm-shtft to operate sad depositing mechanism, substantially as described.

12. The combination in a machine f0r makng matches, of the endless belt, a wormwheel for driving the same, a worm-shaft, a worm en said shaft f0r cperatng said wormwheel, a cutting-head provided with a series of knives, and an eccentric rod 01 lever carried by said worm-shaft f0r reciprocating said knives te sever the match-splints, substantially as described.

13. The combination in a machine for makin g matches, of the endless belt, tubes in said belt, a worm-wheel f0r operating the same, a wcrm-shaft, a worm on said shaft fox operating the worm-wheel, fingers carried by a vertcally moving frame f01 deposting the match-splints nto the tubes of the endless belt, and a lug or project-ion on the worm shaft adapted t0 operate said frame, substantially as described.

14. The combination in a machine for making matches, of the endless belt, tubes on saicl belt fox holding the splints, spring-fingers, as 35, 0r confinng the splnts within said tubes, spring-controllecl rods carriecl by the endless belt te which said spring-fingers are secured, heads en said rods, and a cam guide 01 projection for engaging said heacls, substantially as descrbed.

15. The combination in a machine for makin g matches, of the endless belt, spring-tubes, as 33, wthin said belt having spring-fingers, as 35, adapted t0 confine the splints within the tubes 33, so that the splnts may be deposited in the same, the springfingers being retracted as s0cn as the heacls of the springcontrolled rods pass the cam 99, substant-ally as (lescrbed.

16. The ombination in a machine f01 makng matches, of the endless belt, sockets themin receving the matchsplints, independent spring-ret-ainers coperating with the scckets to hold the splints therein, a cam-guide acting t0 withdraw the springs in a line and thus release the matches contained in the sockets, substantially as described.

17. The combination in a machine for making matches, of the endless belt, sockets therein and retainers for the splints carried by the belt, splintfeeding mechanism and means f0r clischarging the matches from the belt, a hor zcntal track over which the belt travels, a heater for dryng the splints, a parafn-tank, meas f0r dipping the splints therein, an airblast apparatus for cooling the coated splint and apparatus for coating the splints with igniton material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH M. VAN BOREN.

VVtnesses:

H. J. RIEGEL, ALICE FENICLE. 

